Dave Zeltserman - Outsourced

Dave Zeltserman lives in the Boston area with his wife, Judy. After working for over twenty years as a software engineer, he now spends his time writing novels. Serpents Tail also publishes his man out of prison noir trilogy: Killer , Pariah and Small Crimes .

Praise for Pariah

A doozy of a doom-laden crime story that not only makes merry with the justice system but also satirizes the publishing industry Washington Post , Best Books of 2009

Darkly enjoyable clear, crisp prose; his fearless portrait of amorality; and his smart plotting what a fine addition to the local literary scene hes become Boston Globe

Pariah is a terrific blast Metro

Pariah is sure to catapult Zeltserman head and shoulders above other Boston authors. This is not only a great crime book, but a gripping read that will crossover to allow greater exposure for this rising talent Bruce Grossman, Bookgasm

Sheer astounding writing Ken Bruen

With this book Zeltserman entrenches his position as the ranking neo-noirist, putting a contemporary spin on a tradition that goes way back to Thompson and James M. Cain. If you like your fiction dark, lean and uncompromising, Pariah has to be at the top of your list Roger Smith

Its the kind of book that is going to spoil whatever I read next, as its going to be found wanting compared to this The Bookbag

Praise for Small Crimes

Theres a new name to add to the pantheon of the sons and daughters of Cain: Dave Zeltserman NPRs Top 5 Crime and Mystery Novels of 2008

Zeltsermans breakthrough third crime novel deserves comparison with the best of James Ellroy Publishers Weekly

A Jim Thompson mentality on a Norman Rockwell setting Small Crimes is a strong piece of work, lean and spare, but muscular where a noir novel should be, with a strong central character who we alternately admire and despise Boston Globe

Small Crimes is one of the finest dark suspense novels Ive read in the past few years Ed Gorman

Zeltserman creates an intense atmospheric maze for readers to observe Dentons twisting and turning between his rocks and hard places. Denton is one of the best realised characters I have read in this genre, and the powerfully noir-ish, uncompromising plot, which truly keeps one guessing from page to page, culminates with a genuinely astonishing finale Sunday Express

Small Crimes proves a deft entry in the tradition that goes back to Jim Thompsons The Killer Inside Me , James M. Cains The Postman Always Rings Twice and Charles Willefords High Priest of California - small masterpieces celebrating the psychopath as a grinning archetype, as American as apple pie Sun-Sentinel

OUTSOURCED

Dave Zeltserman

First published in Great Britain in 2010 by Serpents Tail,
an imprint of Profile Books Ltd
3A Exmouth House
Pine Street
London ECIR OJH
www.serpentstail.com

This eBook edition published in 2010

Copyright Dave Zeltserman 2010
The moral right of the author has been asserted.

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real
persons, dead or alive, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced,
transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in
any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as
allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as
strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised
distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors
and publishers rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

eISBN 978 1 84765 316 1

Outsourced is dedicated to all the software engineers Ive worked with over the years. And maybe even to a couple of my old managers.

The bar was mostly empty, which was typical for a Wednesday at two in the afternoon. Dan Wilson had the bartender pour him a Guinness Draft and a Harpoon IPA, and brought the beers back to a table in the corner where his companion, Shrinivas Kumar, sat waiting.

Dan, a large affable man with close-cropped hair that was far grayer than it shouldve been given his forty-eight years, handed the Harpoon IPA to Shrinivas or Shrini, as he liked to be called and took a seat across from him. As usual, Dans mouth was twisted into a slight grin. Dark circles under his eyes betrayed his typical good humor, however.

Shrini was fourteen years younger than Dan. He had a medium build, olive-color skin, and a serious demeanor. He dressed neatly and wore a musk-scented cologne. Shrini grew up in a northern region of India, near New Delhi, before moving to the States to attend college at the University of Florida. Majoring in computer science, he had moved to Massachusetts after graduation where he worked steadily as a software engineer until a year and a half ago. That was when the small software company he and Dan worked for had shut its doors. Since then hed had one short-term contract job lasting four months, but nothing else. He took his wallet out.

How much do I owe you for the beer?

Shrini, come on, buddy, put your wallet away. You get the next round, okay?

In that case, cheers, Shrini offered, lifting his glass.

Just like old times, huh? Dan said, a sadness in his eyes countering his grin.

Both men drank quietly, both deep in their own thoughts. Shrini started to say something then closed his mouth, his body tensing as he looked around to make sure no one was within earshot.

You are meeting your friend, Joel, this afternoon? Shrini asked, his voice low.

Thats right. I got a two-hour drive up to the boondocks of New Hampshire. Goddamn redneck bastard. His house is in the middle of nowhere. The damn place is like a military compound.

You are sure you can trust him?

We worked together for eleven years. I can trust him. Dan paused to sip his beer. Joel and I have kept in touch the last seven. Hes a good guy, good heart. A little abrasive maybe, but a good guy.

And you think he will want to do this?

Id have to think so. He was laid off two years ago and hasnt worked since. I know he never made any big money and with three divorces Im sure he didnt save shit. At this point, hes probably spending down his 401K like the rest of us.

That is still a big leap to being willing to do this.

I know the guy. Hell want to come onboard. And what the fuck else is he going to do? A fifty-five-year-old software engineer out of work for two years? Maybe go back to school for bioengineering? At his age? Or how about becoming a real-estate agent? How many real-estate agents do we need?

Dan had worked himself up with his speech. He drank the little Guinness he had left and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. When he looked up, he noticed his companion frowning deeply.

Shrini, buddy, whats wrong?

I dont like this. This is very big what were doing, and I dont know your friend. I know people in India I could bring here

You got to be kidding me, Dan said, raising an eyebrow. Then, muttering under his breath so it was barely audible, Im not bringing in people from overseas. With the way things are today, the FBI would be on us in a heartbeat.

Please, hear me out

Shrini, youve got to trust me on this. Joel is exactly what we need. Politically, the guy is far right to the point of being nuts and his religion now is the goddamn second amendment. Hes got all the guns we need, and I guarantee you none of them are traceable.

Shrini, very low, There are other places we can get guns.

Yeah, there are. But not without putting us at risk. And theres more to it than that. When you meet Joel, youll think he looks like nothing. Five foot six, a hundred and fifty pounds maybe. But he works out every day, and bumping into him is like bumping into a brick wall. And hes definitely got the balls for this, maybe more than the two of us.